Shin Masked Rider review (Karmen Rider)

Shin Masked Rider is a 2023 love letter by Anno Hideaki which draws inspiration from the tv series by Tokusatsu, and in this film Hongo Takeski becomes the grasshopper based cyborg Karmen Rider aka Masked Rider to battle the forces of SHOCKER. Fans of Power Rangers who may want to tune into something more of an adult counterpart will have a treat here, as blood flies when the super-powered punches connect. It’s 70s style kitsch Sci fi given modern CGI treatment, and it’s like a wonderful Saturday morning cartoon adventure for the young at heart. Shin Masked Rider is fun and deals with loss regret computers and the afterlife in between bouts of explosive super powered battles. Brightly coloured costumes, high speed motorcycles and mid air combat all take centre stage here, in an epic outlandish sincere Superhero movie that’s the cornerstone of Japanese pop culture.